Computer Science (Ph.D.)
Ph.D. Computer Science (Doctoral)
Program Overview
This program is the first in Texas to offer doctoral-level studies in computer science with business training. The emphasis on collaboration with industry and preparation for careers in academia, business, nonprofit organizations and government laboratories is a powerful driver for original research and innovative product development.
Course Work
The program can be taken both full-time and part-time. A total of 54 semester credit hours are required for a student entering with a master's degree and 78 with a bachelor's degree. Course work consists of breadth courses, including 7000-level courses from both concentrations (information management and software systems), and an introduction to a computer science research course. The remainder of the degree consists of the depth electives (7000-level courses from the student's concentration) and dissertation hours. Additional requirements include a qualifying exam, a comprehensive exam, and programming competency skills.
| Degree | Concentration | Course Work | Dissertation | Total Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree Ph.D. | Concentration Information Management | Course Work 54 hours (for applicants with a bachelor's degree only) | Dissertation 24 hours | Total Hours 78 hours | Location San Marcos |
Degree Ph.D. | Concentration Software Systems | Course Work 54 hours (for applicants with a bachelor's degree only) | Dissertation 24 hours | Total Hours 78 hours | Location San Marcos |
Degree Ph.D. | Concentration Information Management | Course Work 30 hours | Dissertation 24 hours | Total Hours 54 hours | Location San Marcos |
Degree Ph.D. | Concentration Software Systems | Course Work 30 hours | Dissertation 24 hours | Total Hours 54 hours | Location San Marcos |
Program Details
Graduate students consistently win national, regional and industry awards, including National Science Foundation Graduate Research Program Fellowships, Council of Southern Graduate Schools Outstanding Thesis awards, and IBM’s Master the Mainframe contests.
Program Mission
The mission of the Department of Computer Science is to advance the knowledge of computer science and technology through education, research and service for the betterment of society. The program focuses on key areas of applied computing of national priority:
- computer security and networking
- data analytics and management
- high-performance computing
- edge computing
- informatics and smart health
- software engineering
The curriculum emphasizes building complementary and interdisciplinary technical skills in applied computing and equipping students with non-technical skills that are essential to navigating multiple career paths.
Career Options
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data Science and Engineering
- Human-Centered Computing
- High-Performance Computing
- Network, Security and Cyber-Physical Systems
- Computer Systems and Engineering
Program Faculty
The department has the following main research areas: computer security and networking, data analytics and management, high-performance computing,
human-computer interaction, informatics and smart health, Edge Computing, and software engineering. With expenditures of $1.5 million in recent years, research activities have increased several-fold, leading to numerous faculty accolades, including a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), several NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Awards, Department of Energy (DOE) grants, and multiple Facebook and Google awards.
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
Doctoral Program Director
Dr. Anne Hee-Hiong Ngu
cs_phd_advisor@txstate.edu
512.245.3409
Comal (CMAL), Room 311C
Advisor Support
Karen Hollensbe
kh48@txstate.edu
512.245.3409
Comal (CMAL), Room 211B
Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?
Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines Fall - Priority | U.S. Citizen February 1 | International February 1 |
Deadlines Fall - Standard | U.S. Citizen June 15 | International June 1 |
This program's deadline is firm. This type of deadline means the application and other application requirements must be submitted by the program's specified deadline day.
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Funding Information Applications must be complete by the priority deadline to be considered for certain types of funding. |
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Decision Timeline This program reviews applications on a rolling basis. |
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.
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Application
- Completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $55 Nonrefundable application fee, OR
- $90 Nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
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Transcripts & GPA
Applicants with a bachelor's and master's degree
- baccalaureate degree in computer science or related field from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- master's degree in computer science or related field from a regionally accredited university master's degree from a regionally accredited university. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. Master’s degree. Master’s degrees following a three-year Bachelor’s degrees may not be equivalent; please contact Graduate Admissions if you are unsure.)
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- competitive GPA, which typically means an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher, in all completed graduate course work.
Applicants with a bachelor's degree only
- baccalaureate degree in computer science or related field from a regionally accredited university
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- a 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE
- official GRE (general test only) required with competitive scores in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 85 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 57 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
- minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo scores required with a 115 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required 9.5 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.
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Documents & Other Requirements
- interview (top-ranking applicants only.)
- Applicants are independently reviewed and ranked by each member of the admissions committee based on a defined set of criteria. Those that are top-rated will be contacted for an interview via Skype or phone and asked a pre-determined set of questions. Based on the results of the interviews, the committee will rank the applicants again to determine the final list for admission.
- resume/CV
- three letters of recommendation submitted directly from professionals who are qualified to assess your academic abilities
- written statement of research interests and goals
- mentor recommendation letter from a current Texas State doctoral faculty member in the Computer Science program. Visit the faculty list for current faculty and their research interests and contact information. Your mentor must email their letter of support directly to Graduate Admissions. This letter must be on file before the program's deadline.
- Since admission to this thesis-/dissertation-based program requires an intent to mentor letter (an agreement from one of our faculty members to supervise your research project) as part of the application process, we strongly recommend that applicants contact potential mentors by sending their CV and research interests and securing that agreement prior to submitting an admission application. The department cannot guarantee that a suitable mentor will always be available.
Review important information about documents.
- interview (top-ranking applicants only.)